Another problem we had with wind was scalability. When we began in 1988 wind was a lot cheaper per watt and that benefit increased as you went up in turbine size.The big turbines cost so much as an initial investment that those deals died. It was easier for everyone to buy a few panels each year until they had enough.
The main problem with networking all the standalone set ups was social.If you had enough power you were shy of paying an expensive wire to join the network. You didn't really need it .The most interested folks were those with no building. They liked the idea and planned to join at some later time when they got the house built, if you got the system running by then (at your expense)
About half of the turbines were taken at some point and just never went back up.
Another new problem was a robbery of panels one night when everyone was gone from the area last sept.